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Ben begun his timber merchandising traineeship at the age of 19 years. He ...

the programme

Trade Support Loans are loans paid in instalments totaling up to $20,000 over the life of an Australian Apprenticeship. These loans are intended to assist apprentices with everyday costs while they complete their apprenticeship. Eligible trade Australian Apprentices may apply (opt-in) for regular instalments according to their needs.

program

trade support loans

Amount

Up to $20,000

PaymentsYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4

Monthly in arrears, adding to:Up to $8,000Up to $6,000Up to $4,000Up to $2,000

Indexation of Lifetime
Limits of available support

Indexed on 1 July 2017 and each later 1 July in line with increases in the consumer price index to maintain real value.

Application

Apprentices apply for a loan through their Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (Apprenticeship Network) provider. They can then ‘opt in’ six monthly, if they still remain eligible for Trade Support Loans. Apprentices can opt out at any time.

Repayments

Payments made to apprentices through Trade Support Loans are repayable through the taxation system when the minimum income threshold is reached. In 2016-17 the minimum repayment occurs at income threshold of $54,868. Once an apprentice successfully completes their apprenticeship, a 20% discount is applied to the loan amounts borrowed. Loan value is indexed in line with increases in the consumer price index to maintain real value.

More detailed information is available from your local Apprenticeship Network provider. Contact details for your Apprenticeship Network provider can be accessed using the Find my Apprenticeship Network provider search tool.

eligibility

The Trade Support Loans Priority List identifies those occupations and qualifications eligible for Trade Support Loans. This list includes certificate III or IV qualifications leading to certain priority trade occupations that currently appear on the National Skills Needs List as well as a number of agriculture and horticulture qualifications at the certificate levels II, III and IV levels.

Uptake of the loan is optional. Eligible Australian Apprentices may decide if taking out the loan is the right choice for them. If they do choose to opt in, it will be for six-monthly periods and apprentices can choose to opt out at any time. Information about the debt burden and responsibility for repayment of the loan can be found here.

Additional information for eligible Australian Apprentices under 18 years of age, and their parents/guardians, of age to ensure they understand the implications and their obligations can be found here.

Payment Arrangements

Eligible apprentices can apply for loans totaling up to $20,000 over the life of an apprenticeship. Apprentices will opt in for six monthly periods with loan payments paid monthly in arrears. The amount an apprentice is eligible to receive as a Trade Support Loan is determined by the year of their apprenticeship, that is, whether they are a first, second, third or fourth year apprentice.

Apprentices who successfully complete their apprenticeship will receive a 20 per cent discount, meaning that the amount they borrowed will be reduced by 20 per cent.

Eligible Australian Apprentices can claim a Trade Support Loan payment only while undertaking their apprenticeship.
Unlike other personal benefit payments Australian Apprentices can not claim Trade Support Loan payments retrospectively. There is no waiting period to claim.

Yes, payments are available in the three month probationary period as long as the Australian Apprentice qualifies for, and opts in to receive payments.
This ensures Australian Apprentices have additional financial support from the beginning of their apprenticeship.

Australian Apprentices can opt in for a six month payment period with payments made in arrears on a monthly basis. Apprentices can opt-in which allows them to receive the next six Trade Support Loan payments that fall due. Following this, apprentices are required to opt-in again to receive further payments. Apprentices can opt-out of receiving payments at any time. Apprentices cannot claim payments for instalments that have passed.

The loan is repayable whenever and for as long as the loan recipient earns above the income threshold ($54,868 for 2016-17). The loan will remain payable until it has been fully repaid. If the loan recipient’s income is below the income threshold they are not required to make repayments.

Loans will be indexed by the Consumer Price Index and repaid through the taxation system, similar to the way HELP loans are repaid. Apprentices who successfully complete their apprenticeship will receive a 20 per cent discount meaning that the amount they borrowed will be reduced by 20 per cent. The loan is repayable through the tax system once apprentices are earning a sustainable income, ($54,868 for 2016-17).

The current repayment thresholds are available from the Australian Tax Office website.

The income of a loan recipient does not impact on their eligibility for a Trade support Loan, however it may impact on their requirement to make repayments. Once a loan recipient reaches the income repayment threshold, they must start repaying the loan must start to be repaid, regardless of whether or not the apprentice is still receiving loan payments.

New laws for the repayment of Trade Support Loan debts are now in force. Until now people who took out a loan and moved overseas did not have to repay their debt as long as they remained offshore.

From 1 January 2016, people with a TSL debt who leave Australia and intend to be overseas for more than six months, or who have already been overseas for six months, will be required to notify the Australian Taxation Office of their new contact details by simply creating a myGov account, linking to ATO online serivcces and selecting ‘update your details’. From 1 July 2017, people overseas will need to use their ATO online account to lodge an assessment of their worldwide income.

Conditions of the loan

No. The loans are flexible to meet the needs of each individual. For instance an apprentice can opt-in for six months only to buy their tools, they could save up their first year’s payments to by a second hand vehicle then opt-out of further payments or they can take the full loan to cover living expenses, such as rent, public transport and phone bills throughout their years of training.

Administration of the Trade Support Loans

Apprenticeship Network providers, contracted by the Australian Government, administer Trade Support Loans. They determine eligibility for Trade Support Loans and assist recipients to make a claim for payments. Eligible Australian Apprentices should contact their Apprenticeship Network provider for further details. Contact details for Apprenticeship Network provider can be accessed by using the Find my Apprenticeship Network provider search tool.

Eligible Australian Apprentices are required to provide their TFN to qualify for Trade Support Loans. Apprenticeship Network provider s collect TFNs as part of data that will be reported to the Australian Taxation Office. TFNs for Trade Support Loans purposes will be collected as part of the application process and will not require a separate TFN declaration form to be completed/provided.

Further Information

The Trade Support Loans Act 2014 is the main piece of legislation used to administer the Trade Support Loans Programme. A copy of the Act, the Guidelines and other supporting documents are available on the Department of Education and Training website.

For more information and advice on all aspects of Australian Apprenticeships, contact your local Apprenticeship Network provider. Apprenticeship Network Providers are contracted by the Australian Government to provide free Australian Apprenticeships support services to apprentices and employers.